Vatican City Guide (1): What to See
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world and one of the most visited places in Rome.
Many visitors think they can walk around Vatican City freely, but only certain areas are open to the public. Knowing where you can enter, what requires a ticket and how the different areas work will make your visit much easier.
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What Can You Visit in Vatican City?
St. Peter’s Square – Free Access
St. Peter’s Square is open to everyone and does not require a ticket.
You can walk around the square, admire Bernini’s Colonnade, take photos and enjoy the view of St. Peter’s Basilica.
There is no passport control when entering Vatican City from Rome.
St. Peter’s Basilica – Free Entrance
St. Peter’s Basilica is free to visit.
Inside the basilica you can see Michelangelo’s Pietà, Bernini’s Baldachin. the main altar and the Vatican Grottoes.
The basilica is a religious site, so shoulders and knees should be covered.
Vatican Museums – Ticket Required
The Vatican Museums are a separate visit from St. Peter’s Basilica.
A Vatican Museums ticket includes access to the Vatican Museums collections and the Sistine Chapel, which is part of the Vatican Museums and cannot be visited separately. There is no separate Sistine Chapel ticket.
Vatican Gardens – Guided Visit Only
The Vatican Gardens are not open for independent visits. They can only be visited through organized tours booked in advance through the official Vatican Museums website.
The entrance to the Vatican Gardens is through the same entrance as the Vatican Museums on Viale Vaticano.
Restricted Areas of Vatican City
Most of Vatican City is not open to regular visitors. These areas include administrative buildings and official Vatican facilities.
Access is limited to Vatican employees, residents, people with official appointments or visitors with special permission.
The entrances to restricted areas are controlled by the Swiss Guard, the historic security force responsible for protecting the Pope and controlling access throughout Vatican City. Depending on their role and location, Swiss Guards may wear traditional ceremonial uniforms or civilian clothing.
Photo credits: Fabio Fistarol,, Caleb Miller, Mathew Schwartz, Ilia Bronskiy on Unsplash & Vatican Museums & private collection